It was interesting to note that despite the manic traffic and lack of infrastructure many city roads were dirt tracks, with no traffic lights evident. I know..mom's got a lock on literally everythin so y we gotta wait..! How to clean up Kathmandus air, Anil Chitrakar, Poisoning the air we breathe, Sonia Awale. We could barely see the birds flying around before but nowadays we can see the birds chirping and flying up in the sky due to decrease in air pollution. Over the weekend, pollution levels hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. But this winter, the haze barely let us see through it. In addition, residential and commercial-scale solar electricity expenses have dropped from $0.52 to $0.16 and $0.40 to $0.11 per kilowatt-hour, respectively. Other global AQI measurement sites likeIQAirput Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. Fewer, though still substantial minorities ranging between 40% and 45% . The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan . The entire population is more likely to be affected. The level between 401 and 500 is very hazardous. In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranked Nepal 177th out of 180 countries. . Because Nepals national government and municipalities have done little to reduce risk, citizens have adopted their own methods of personal protection: wearing masks, installing air purifiers at home and office, cancelling morning walks, and monitoring air pollution levels on apps before allowing children to play outside. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. When a vehicle passes by, dust is released into the air and pollutes the clothes that are kept for selling and the customers do not like the polluted ones. Furthermore, the life expectancy in the Kathmandu Valley is four years less than that of other Nepalese regions. Download the latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. "This also adds to the risk of COVID-19," said Sher Bahadur Pun, a doctor at a tropical and infectious disease hospital in the capital. The latest edition of Resurgence & Ecologist is out now, and available to buy. The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep into the lungs, was 214 micrograms per cubic metre in the upscale area of Bhaisepati in Kathmandu on Sunday, Department of Environment data showed. The government should ban the use of old vehicles. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled road release huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. ONTARIO, Calif., Sept. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kickstarting the autonomous bus revolution in the US, the city of Houston is set to receive the first Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Buy America-compliant mid-size autonomous bus in the US. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel in the valley. Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. Yours sincerely, Rajesh. Kathmandu valley requires half of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. In Nepal and Kathmandu the annual premature death due to air pollution hit37,399 and 9943 respectively,according to aRepublica news report published on 23 November 2019. PM2.5 levels of 403.72 g/m3 were recorded at 7pm on November 4 in Nepalgunj, the highest for the country in the past week. In 2000 / 2001 there were 24,003 vehicles registered in Kathmandu and this has increased dramatically to 79,822 in 2015 / 2016. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Human error eyed as cause of Yeti Airlines crash that killed 72 people, 2 Americans, 2 permanent US residents among 72 dead in Nepal plane crash, Father of flight attendant urged her not to work before Nepal crash left 70 dead, Nepal to send data recorder from crash to France. Every year, 35,000 people in Nepal die from illnesses related to air contaminants. "And it wasn't just the . Take your pick, but remember the best thing is to reduce the source of pollution. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt by plants, particularly to those closer to the road. And with reports of Indias north and its capital New Delhi struggling with extreme air pollution, Sunil wonders how much worse the air will get this winter. Q News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. Says Pallavi Pant, air quality scientist at the Health Effects Institute: Exposures to air pollution have been shown to affect the human bodys immune defence, making an individual more susceptible to respiratory infections such as pneumonia., Editor Online: Sahina Shrestha | Executive Editor: Sonia Awale A new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds. Efforts for improving air quality should be of utmost priority now so that safety of citizens' health can be ensured. There has also been a 25% increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. We've received your submission. Nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, confusing messages from government officials have frayed locals trust. In Chabahil, Sunil remains concerned for his fathers health, who continues to take his walk despite the morning haze. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 The statement declared that the level of pollution in the valley is increasingly -- especially in the mornings and the evenings -- creating negative implications on people's health. "Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. Since the festival of Diwali ended last week, the air quality in New Delhi has drastically deteriorated, resulting in air pollution levels reaching nearly 10 times healthy limits. At this level of air quality, it is better that active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality byemitting huge quantitiesof smoke into the ambient environment. Air pollution is a chronic problem in . The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate inthe city. Air pollution is also the main environmental risk factor for non-communicable diseases like cancers and lung diseases, concludes a recent report by the NCD Alliance and the Forum of International Respiratory Scientists: The challenge is great, but the cure is straight-forward it must be met by national, regional, local and personal responses. 1. Strong laws related to environment should be made and implemented. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. There will be complications in irrigation facility, deforestation will take place and landslides may occur, the water resources will get soaked. As we see the readings from air quality metres located in various stations of the country, we find that Simara has the poorest air quality. These two are just representative examples of millions of people who are directly or indirectly affected by dust,a burning issue ofthe twenty firstcentury. South Asia News: KATHMANDU: Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home. The government, which has been engulfed in a crisis within the ruling party after Prime Minister K P Oli dissolved the Lower House and called for snap polls in April-May, seems to be too distracted to pay attention to the converging crises of Covid-19 and air pollution. AQI level between 0-50 is Good, 51-100 is Moderate, 101-150 is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, 151-200 is Unhealthy, 201-300 is Very Unhealthy, and anything above 301 is regarded as Hazardous. Legal provisions should be made in order for people to manage solid wastes properly. Submissions - . Since PM2.5 are so small, they are also likely to hang in the air for longer, increasing the chances that they will be inhaled. This is a very great decision taken by the government. The index stood at 214 as per DoE's data. A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at theUS Embassy measuring stationat Phora Darbar. Despite the fact that most people in our country are breathing the air with such perilous level pollution, we still lack the vigour to act responsibly against the situation. 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. We need to be extra careful because by the time we reach peak pollution levels, we will be gearing up to launch Visit Nepal 2020, said Tuladhar. Between 301 and 400 (maroon), the air quality is at a hazardous level; it has more severe health implications. Site By: Hiti Design, On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at the. On hand was Marcia Bernicat of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. This is a very unpleasant decision. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Of six environmental problems facing the U.S., Americans remain most worried about those that affect water quality. Ltd. Mhepi-16, Kathmandu, Nepal Company Reg. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 Around 100 people die every day in Nepal because of air pollution. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained: Many businesses have gone down due to high amount of road dust. Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local, said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. The EPI recently found Nepal to have the worst air pollution in the world. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. Officials at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. There are cloth masks and surgical ones, some are disposable but many use replaceable filters. We can develop our own action plan to combat air pollution and also introduce other measures like enforcing green stickers for vehicles, among many others.. The funds are the first . Editor Online: Sahina Shrestha | Executive Editor: Sonia Awale Sunil Paudel, Basudevs son, stopped going on morning walks last year after learning that Kathmandus air quality was reaching unsafe levels. EIAs must be submitted to Nepal's Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) for approval, whereas IEEs can be approved by other relevant ministries. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NEPAL Prof. Dr. Meen B. Poudyal Chhetri a and Anil Shakyab a Disaster Preparedness Network, Kathmandu, Nepal b Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Government of Nepal ABSTRACT Environmental degradation is a very big problem in Nepal which is causing human health Department of Environment on January 5 had released a statement mentioning about the change in weather condition in the country and increasing level of pollution in Kathmandu valley. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. While the quality of air in some of these places has degraded tremendously, air quality in other places is becoming increasingly unhealthy. PAUL, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Senate voted Thursday to make it harder for thieves to sell stolen catalytic converters, a crime that has skyrocketed across the country in recent years. Microplastics are man-made pollutants which have been detected in surface water and groundwater. The 3rd leading cause of death in low and middle-income countries is COPD, 5th leading cause is Lower Respiratory Infections and seventh is Diarrheal diseases. When a vehicle passes by, dust is released into the air and pollutes the clothes that are kept for selling and the customers do not like the polluted ones. Similarly, Dhangadhi was third in line to have the most degraded air quality among the list of stations measuring the AQI. According to the World Air Quality Report, Kathmandu is the seventh most polluted capital city in the world, based on its average yearly PM2.5 level. of tens of millions of people by 3.7 years. Similarly, household air pollution (HAP) was over 18-folds higherduring our survey in 2007 than the WHO recommended guidelines . The leaves of plants are covered in dust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. This company thinks bacteria can help fix fashion's water pollution problem. Plastic pollution in oceans and other bodies of water continues to grow sharply and could more than double by 2030, according to an assessment released on Thursday by the UN Environment Programme ( UNEP ). That said, old diesel vehicles are contributing significantly to the poor air quality in the city. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. Of course, a masks effectiveness depends on how well it fits on the face, but a simple, disposable surgical mask can be more cost-effective than those fancy looking expensive ones. In Nepal, a Cabinet decision last year adopted the Department of Environments guidelines for air pollution to declare a health emergency if AQI exceeded 300 meaning the government can ban open burning, close factories, and take measures to reduce vehicles on the roads. On Wednesday, the daily average PM 2.5 level for the western city clocked around 200, which is deemed unhealthy. By Sophie Wodzak,Emily Cochrane and Lisa Friedman. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. At a time when Kathmandu's AQI was hitting record highs on Tuesday morning with 438, the New Delhi suburb of Noida recorded less than 151 ( AQI World map, below). The first step in controlling air pollution is with electric public transport because vehicular emissions make up the majority of pollutants in Kathmandus air, says environmentalist Bhushan Tuladhar. The transport sector further contributes 30 percent of PM10 particles, which are smaller than a grain of sand and can easily pass through the hairs in our nose, second only to the construction sector, which emits 53 percent of the total PM10. Kathmandus AQI has remained at the Maroon Hazardous level for two days in a row. The leaves of plants are covered indust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. Tags: environment, pollution, Philippines Coronavirus Bulletin Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Dust from construction works, exhaust from old, poorly maintained vehicles and smoke from coal-burning brick kilns blend in a murky haze that hangs over the ancient city of four million people, raising the risk of cancer, stroke, asthma and high blood pressure, experts say. Benchmarks . Fri 3 Mar 2023 06.19 EST. When you can frame the problem in terms of how many people are dying and how much productivity is lost, then it becomes much more urgent.. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets dug up to replace water mains has turned the Valley into a dust bowl. Department of Information Registration No. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used in Kathmandu. PM2.5, or Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns thick, are among the most dangerous of air particles as they can get past the nose and throat to enter the lungs and even the bloodstream. Basudev Paudel is in his late fifties and at his age, he believes that regular morning walks are important for keeping healthy. 12 February 2021. Butair pollution issues are continue to increase. Nepal, especially Kathmandu, in the current situation, is observing rapid urbaniz But the Narayani's problems go back further. Even before Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that poorair qualityin northern India and the Tarai was already thereducing average lifespanof tens of millions of people by 3.7 years. Over the weekend, pollution levels hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters news agency. Haze engulfs Kathmandu valley as the air pollution increases to unhealthy levels, on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Hourly AQI data showed Simara's air quality as very hazardous at 8:00 am. says that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. These are the key points that needs to be followed in order to bring a positive change in the environment. This means Kathmandus pollution has been 15 times higher than the WHO standard. Espaol. Quantifying the socio-economic impact of air pollution on a country will be vital in raising awareness among the public as well as policy makers and leaders, but as we have seen in Nepal it does not immediately lead to policy change. And residents of the capital who smoke get a double whammy. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to update its water pollution rules for slaughterhouses for the first time in nearly 20 years, the agency . Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used inKathmandu. The World Health Organisation (WHO)s guidelines state that AQI should be below 35, and the concentration of particles below 2.5 microns should be below 25 g/mover a 24 hour period. The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep . Air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. , : Which country has the most number of lakes. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. We should work for the betterment of the environment because the nature has provided a lot to us and we shouldnt be disgraceful towards it. Environmental Health issues are a not major risk factors for the Global Burden of Diseases. systema Motorcycles and passenger vehicles such as jeeps, cars and vansaccountedfor 92 percentof total registered vehicles in Bagmatiby the end of 2014-15. It said that air pollution is dependent on weather system, and due to this fact, the pollution may last for some time or may worsen further with the passing of time. In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)ranked Nepal 177thout of 180 countries. Taking action to tackle the pollution in Nepal Average life expectancy is reduced by at least four years in the worst-affected areas like Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan and other parts of the Tarai. Hemraj Bhattarai is agraduate student from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, and is currently working on air pollution issuesat Kathmandu Center for Research and Education, Nepal. Photo Courtesy: Department of Environment/Air Quality Montoring, A screenshot showing Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities as measured at 9 am on Thursday, March 25, 2021. The moves reflect residents deep-seated mistrust of government screenings of toxic chemicals and fears of long-term effects from the train derailment. There are dozens of varieties of masks available in the market, along with air purifiers that cost more than Rs130,000. We know what we're looking at when brown haze settles over a city, exhaust billows across a busy highway, or a plume rises from a smokestack. , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. Motorcycles and passenger vehicles such as jeeps, cars and vans accounted for 92 percent of total registered vehicles in Bagmati by the end of 2014-15. Air pollution regularly exceeds recommended safe levels. The CPV power plant operates in Woodbridge N.J. on Feb. 27, 2023. AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration of particulate matter below 10 and 2.5 microns, carbon monoxide, sulphur and nitrogen dioxide and ground ozone. Photo Courtesy: Department of Environment/Air Quality Montoring, President candidate Poudel reaches RSP office seeking votes, US, Russia hold highest-level talks since Ukraine invasion, Scathing report on Nepal's security controls, In Pictures: Air Pollution continues its grip over Kathmandu Valley, China acknowledges Sino-Indian brawl at Galwan Valley from last year for the first time, Covid vaccination drive in Nepal could be affected with Indian govt halting AstraZeneca export. Air qualities in cities like Birgunj, Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa get worse due to local air pollution, supported by stagnation of air in this season where there is an inversion of temperature, a reversal of the normal behaviour of temperature in the troposphere, said Poudel, the meteorologist. In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. This year, I have already started feeling different. Also, news from United Nations. Thefts of the pollution control devices from cars and trucks more than quadrupled from 3,389 in 2019 to 14,433 in 2020, and jumped dramatically again in 2021 . , , , , . Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. Smog has blanketed huge swaths of Nepal as air pollution in the Himalayan country soared to hazardous levels. Anupamaas Nidhi Shahs off-screen glam looks, Top 10 T'wood actresses of the 80s and 90s, Shraddha Das rocks the thigh-high slit trend, Live: PM addresses post-budget webinar on Green Growth, Oscars to have Crisis Team after Will Smith slapgate, Adani's older brother plays key role at embattled dynasty, Terms of Use and Grievance Redressal Policy. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking cigarettes., Solution to pollution, Pallavi Pant and Anobha Gurung. Students participate in activities such as program evaluation and monitoring, public health surveillance, program development, risk assessments and analysis, development of policy briefs . ? Dust from construction works, exhaust from old, poorly maintained vehicles and smoke from coal-burning brick kilns blend in a murky haze that hangs over the ancient city of four million people, raising the risk of cancer, stroke, asthma and high blood pressure, experts say. Air pollution has been a major problem of 21st century for both developed and developing world. 30 Mar 2021. Modern day Nepal is one of the most polluted and impoverished places in the world. A general view of a street during a smoggy day as the government has orderedschoolsto close for four days after the air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country, in Kathmandu, Nepal March 30, 2021. Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. As reported by the World Bank, Nepal is one of the poorest nations in the world with an estimated GDP per capita of US$470. Non-smokers in Kathmandu are now suffering from diseases that you would expect to see afflicting chain smokers. In 2013, a team of Cambridge University scientists were in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, developing a device to measure . Find out more. The same report ranked Nepal the eighth most polluted country in the world. The government should really take a closer look at what their decision might lead the environment and the whole country to in the future. In Nepal, COPD is the second major cause of death after Ischemic Heart Diseases. Globally, air pollution results in around sevenmillion deaths annually. If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. Adriana Paulo de Sousa Oliveira, Paula Assemany, Lidiane Covell, Maria Lcia Calijuri. But so far, the government has done almost nothing to control air pollution.. A paper published in the December 2000 volume of the International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences on pollution in the Narayani placed the blame squarely on the Gorkha Brewery (and a paper mill that has since closed down) for much of the pollution in Nepal's third-largest river. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate in the city.
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